                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

ACQUIRING TITLE TO AN ABANDONED WATERCRAFT (§ 29.1-733.25)

A. Any watercraft abandoned for a period exceeding 60 days is subject to the
provisions of this section.

B. A landowner, his lessee, or his agent may acquire title to any watercraft
abandoned on his land or the water immediately adjacent to his land. Acquisition
of title, under the provisions of this section, divests any other person of any
interest in the watercraft.

C. If a watercraft has a registration number assigned by the Commonwealth or any
other state, or if there are other means of identifying the owner, the person
desiring to acquire title shall make a good faith effort to secure the
last-known address of all owners and lien holders. He shall notify each owner
and lien holder by registered letter that if ownership is not claimed and the
watercraft not removed within 30 days, he will apply for title to the watercraft
in his name.

D. The person desiring to acquire title also shall place a notice, to appear for
three consecutive issues, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or
city where the watercraft is located. The notice shall describe the watercraft,
its location, and any identifying number or numbers. The notice shall state that
if the watercraft is not claimed and removed within 30 days after the first day
the notice was published, the person who has placed the notice shall apply to
the Department for title to the watercraft.

E. At the end of the 30-day period, the person seeking to acquire the watercraft
shall apply to the Department for title. The application shall be accompanied by
the following: (i) an affidavit stating that to the best of the
applicant&#8217;s knowledge the watercraft has been abandoned for a period of at
least 60 days, (ii) proof that the registered letter required by the Department
was mailed at least 30 days prior to application or a detailed explanation of
the steps taken to identify the owner and lien holder, and (iii) proof that a
notice was printed in a newspaper as required in subsection D.

F. Upon receipt by the Department of all items required by subsection E, and
after all fees and taxes due have been paid, the Department shall then issue
title to the watercraft to the applicant.

G. All costs incurred in obtaining title to a watercraft under this section
shall be borne by the applicant.

H. Any locality or state agency that has met the requirements of subsections A
through D may apply to the Department for an authorization to destroy and
dispose of the watercraft. The application shall be accompanied by the
following: (i) an affidavit stating that to the best of the applicant&#8217;s
knowledge the watercraft has been abandoned for a period of at least 60 days,
(ii) proof that the registered letter required by the Department was mailed at
least 30 days prior to application or a detailed explanation of the steps taken
to identify the owner and lien holder, (iii) proof that a notice was printed in
a newspaper as required in subsection D, and (iv) a certification by the
applicant that the watercraft will be destroyed and disposed of following
authorization. Upon receipt of such complete application items required in this
subsection, the Department shall issue an authorization to destroy and dispose
of the watercraft.

HISTORY: 2013, c. 787; 2024, c. 314.